Life Under the Lights - Latest Comments

Re: A Slap in the Face to Paramedics Everywhere?

Generic Levitra — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:29:12 -0000

Good Information has been established in this page.. Good source mate..

Re: EMS 2.0

Junk Food Diet — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:01:44 -0000

pretty good example for ems 2.0, can you make more clear examples ...

Re: Why does being a Paramedic seem so worthless sometimes?

FireMedic — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:06:08 -0000

I remember working on the private side of EMS and feeling this way. Thankfully, I'm in no position to gripe about it any more. Here in the western US we seem to be paying a little more but it's still way below what it should be for what we do.

Re: Soapy Pictures – The EMS Narrative Report

Paramedic7908 — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 11:08:45 -0000

Patient is a 65 y/o male inside
call location with obvious pallor and moist skin. He c/o retro-sternal discomfort which started
30 min ago after he ate dinner. Pt. also
c/o mild dyspnea with nausea. He
describes the pain as a heaviness which radiates to his left u/e. The pain is constant and he rates it 6/10. He states he took two Rx NTG 15 min apart
prior to calling 911. The first NTG
relieved the pain somewhat but it returned and he took a second which produced
similar results. He says he has not had
these symptoms since his MI two years ago for which he had a CABGx2. Pt. denies any recent injury or
illnesses. His family states he also
became very pale and began to sweat profusely.
Denies: H/A, vomiting, abd pn, dizziness. PERRLA, Conjunctiva: pale, + circumoral
cyanosis, - JVD @ 450, skin is cool and moist to touch, L/S cl/bilat
with some accessory muscle use noted, Abd soft and non-tender x 4 quads, no
neuro/motor deficits noted, - pedal edema.
Admin: O2 @ 15 lpm via
NRB, 162 mg ASA PO. Pt. skin color and
condition show little improvement as he still c/o 4/10 c/p with mild D/B.

Re: Tripping at the Hospital – A Teachable Moment for EMS

Taylor White — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:22:22 -0000

I completley agree with your assessment of the sitation. We are trained differently and we all have scopes of practice for a reason. The nurses acknowledged that they were uncomfortable moving the patient and called the appropriate service.

Re: Cardiocerebral Resuscitation – Change brings Fantastic results

sharonchong — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:38:17 -0000

same here

Re: A Slap in the Face to Paramedics Everywhere?

Hit the weights — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:19:21 -0000

Dude, You are an IDIOT.

Nurses have been transporting Patients for over a hundred years. Nurses and doctors have taught you the Paramedic everything he or she knows. Paramedics have invented nothing, How dare you become so envious, I am a Registered Nurse, and swin circles around medics. You have need to come to grips with what is called the Pecking order!

Re: Equipment Review: Scary Post Ahead

Tricor — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 01:44:46 -0000

I am so grateful for this post and thanks so much for sharing it around. Will definately keep close track of these pages.

Re: Looking for the link to NIMS training? ICS 100, ICS 200, ICS 700, ICS 800

Danangiebrown — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 14:01:58 -0000

looking for the answrs to the nims 100b anyone have them. thanks

Re: Why does being a Paramedic seem so worthless sometimes?

cJackson — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 05:00:14 -0000

Its hard to find on the web... But there's a group of ppl trying to push for a NEW medic! Advanced paramedic. More schooling of course... But with more schooling comes more pay.. cough cough RN

Re: Why does being a Paramedic seem so worthless sometimes?

cJackson — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 04:58:02 -0000

I've worked several different types of jobs growing up. I'm 23 now and never, I repeat never thought I would finish medic school and be making 12 bucks an hour. For one, jobs that required you to use your professional impression to make your own judgement call paid more by far. For EMS, this is not the case what so ever. I shouldn't have to explain any further. lol... But I love the job and hope one day I can volunteer for a natural disaster or something. Dedicate my time to help else where, as long as I can get a plate of food and a warm bed to sleep in, maybe a cig before I go to bed.

Re: Ideas from the Field

Miller — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:05:47 -0000

It was a routine motor vehicle collision. One patient with complaints of neck and back pain who was ambulatory at the scene. There was no significant damage to the vehicle and the detailed physical assessment was unremarkable. We had immobilized the patient and transported them to a local Atlanta hospital, which happened to be a Level 1 Trauma Center. As I handed the nurse the printed patient care report, she informed me that the physician had wanted to ask me about something pertaining to the care we had provided. I approached the Resident Physician, “Excuse me, Doc…the nurse said you wanted to see me.” “ Oh, Dr.______ wanted to ask you about something,” the Resident said as he pointed toward the Attending Physician. “Thank you,” I replied. I approached the Attending, who was attentively listening to another Resident give a patient report. After the Resident finished her report, the Attending acknowledged me. “ Did you bring in the patient in Trauma 2?” he asked. “Yes sir,” I replied. “ I wanted to ask you about something, have you got a minute?” he asked. “Yes sir.” I followed the Attending into Trauma 2. “I used to be a medic myself,” he said. “Out West…Dallas/Fort Worth…worked there as a medic for seven years before I decided to go on to medical school.” He donned an exam glove and grabbed our backboard. “Walk with me,” he said. We walked out to the ambulance ramp, he turned around to face me, and continued, “ Prehospital care has changed a lot since I was a medic…some changes for the good and other changes for the bad. One thing that I don’t think should ever change though, is pride in the job.” His expression was stoic. He stood the backboard up and spun it around. “ Would you put your mother on this?” The elliptical-shaped island of tarry adhesive located on the backboard where the patient’s head would be placed was evident. “ No sir,” I answered ashamedly. “ Look closely…” he continued, “… there appears to be hair, straw, and no telling what else embedded in this stuff…what is this stuff, anyway…tape?” “ Well sir, you see our service uses a disposable cervical immobilization device. It adheres to the backboard with a sticky adhesive. After the patient is taken off of the backboard, we pull the device off and throw it away. A sticky residue from the adhesive is left. It builds up over time and creates this tarry mess.” “ I see,” he said as he turned to survey the other backboards corralled against the wall of the ambulance ramp. “This seems to be an epidemic,” he said, noticing that other services’ backboards were in the same condition. “ Do you know the efforts that are being made in hospitals throughout the country to combat health-care acquired infections?” he asked. “ These spine boards are probably harboring MRSA and VRE.” “ I am really disappointed that this is acceptable to the EMS community,” he muttered as he walked back into the E.R. After returning to the station, the arduous task of backboard decontamination began. Thirty minutes and two steel wool pads later, most of the tarry adhesive had been removed. Someone suggested that the use of Goo Gone TM may prove to be more effective than the previous method. It was discovered at a later date that the use of Goo Gone TM did indeed prove to be more effective. After generously spraying the affected area of the backboard with Goo Gone TM and waiting approximately 5 minutes, the tarry adhesive was easily wiped from the backboard. This procedure was then followed by a thorough cleansing with 1:100 bleach/water solution as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control for medical equipment decontamination.

Commercial head immobilization devices leave a tarry residue on backboards and unfortunately this residue is typically not removed. This results in the accumulation of this residue and the probability of bacterial colonization. This provides a challenge for infection control to EMS providers. Goo Gone or another residue-dissolving substance should be part of the EMS infection control arsenal.

Re: Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-28

Actos — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 01:14:29 -0000

good conversation in twitter.. hard worker

Re: Coming Soon – The Law of Unintended Consequences meets the fire service

Too Old To Work — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 19:04:17 -0000

Marcus, are you so naive, or dumb, to believe that the insurance companies will not raise their rates if they have to pay for services such as this? Or that they will not refuse to pay for them if not specified in the insurance policy? Insurance companies exist to make money for their investors. If you don't like that fact, then you should join the other fools at Occupy Where Ever. I'm sure that they will be more than happy to help you get your Unicorn tails and fairy dust.

As Chris point out, there will be a reaction to this, maybe several. The taxpayers may insist on a cut to the fire department budget. Or someone whose insurance won't cover may sue the department and the entire plan may be thrown out.

While fire protection is a vital need, some other services aren't so vital. Maybe the people who allocate money in Elgin should re-evaluate their priorities.

Re: Why does being a Paramedic seem so worthless sometimes?

Lm — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:45:14 -0000

That's only in parts of Ontario - the rest of Canada pays far less.

Re: Saved by the Bell? High School Student EMS

Real Estate Philippines — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:43:45 -0000

He worked odd jobs, later as an EMT, and used his GI bill and took out student loans to go to Hampden-Sydney for two years, going to paramedic school when ...

Re: Why does being a Paramedic seem so worthless sometimes?

sclark — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 03:33:01 -0000

i have had over a yr of college and have been in the medical field for 8 yrs. but decided to get my emt-b. i am now making $8.00 an hr! i love this job, but don't know if i want to continue on with my medic or finally get certified in surgery. it is hard enough being a single mom of 3 and you can do what you love because you can't pay your bills!! and it's so aggravating when fast food workers make more than you!

Re: Ambodriver and his pink leg

Apri — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 01:12:00 -0000

You have good experience. This article gives me a new way of taking my visualization.
Thanks

Re: Even a Blind Squirrel

Joomla Development — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 05:11:36 -0000

I'm happy when reading through your site with up-to-date information! thanks alot and hope that you'll publish more site that are based on this website.

Re: A Weighted Issue – The Fire Service Helping Private EMS

Medicsully — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 09:01:50 -0000

I know I'm reading a response from a year ago, but how can you say that private companys stress the 911 system. In my area, Chicago, private services run thousands of emergent nursing home calls a month, meet up with the fire biased municipal EMS to take patients from their homes to further hospitals. Yes the are trying to profit, but is the few times they ask for help really stressing system?

Re: Coming Soon – The Law of Unintended Consequences meets the fire service

Marcus — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 19:30:52 -0000

The oldest problem in the book. How do you keep costs low and keep a fire department/EMS services going with good equipment, etc, etc. Afterall, we don't make widgets, we are a service, a luxury that some don't believe they need.... Until they do. So what is the answer? Nothing easy by any means. Raise taxes? Get a bond? Fund raising? HA! These are but a few of the ways we have to make it work. But the average citizen doesn't understand things like city ratings, and the costs of running such a department. I mean look at most fire depatments in the West. They have mostly integrated their services by being dual certified in both fire and EMS just so the citizens get more for their buck. And if you want to have people come to your aid anytime of the day without fail or a huge response time, well then, you'll need to hire a full time staff or risk having someone you love die due to a lack of those that can respond.

I say good luck to you guys. I would like to see others move on this as well. I mean if the insurance people can rob people blind and make a killing off of those that can't afford to pay out of pocket costs then I believe the fire department/EMS services should be able to bill insurance for true costs of the service. Enough said.

Re: Tripping at the Hospital – A Teachable Moment for EMS

Tj — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 17:59:19 -0000

Best place to have an emergency? Ambo bay at hospital...

Re: Issues: I’m Scared of something, Have a Rhythm, and A New Column Up, Too.

Hilinda — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 20:50:22 -0000

I wish everyone (from providers to politicians and everyone in between) could just focus on providing quality service, but alas, it seems not always to be so.

Re: A Predatory Ambulance Fee?

Jon B. — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:30:01 -0000

I'm going to agree with EyeofNate... I read this as a bill for a refusal after ALS care is provided, not a fee for every EMS encounter.

The biggest case being the hypoglycemic diabetic that EMS "fixes". There are plenty of others. I'm sorry - more places do this, and eventually Medicare might realize we do more than drive from Point "A" to Point "B".

Re: Issues: I’m Scared of something, Have a Rhythm, and A New Column Up, Too.

medic1976 — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 11:43:10 -0000

I work with those guys, and they are just awesome! I'm on a SmallTown ambo service and am finishing up my medic with the services in RI County, and my heart just breaks for these guys. I commend the Chief for what he did, supporting his men and women. Life isn't fair, but it just isn't right for the MFD or the city of Moline to sacrifice quality patient care. Too bad they couldn't just eliminate one of the 3 secretaries the mayor has...